I know that seems pretty obvious right? Apparently not to everyone it seems. The Kansas House on Wednesday advanced legislation that would allow a religious defense to discriminate against gays. If the Senate follows suit and Governor Sam Brownback signs the bill, as he has indicted, then anyone could opt out of anti-discrimination laws that protect gays and lesbians by claiming they violate their "religious freedom."
Lets really examine that. If this actually became law it would allow people to opt out of ANY anti-discrimination law on religious grounds. I often wonder how people like this haven't stopped breathing yet due to lack of brain function, let alone got elected into public office. Do these people realize that this blade they are so eager to wield cuts both ways? If my religion says Christians are bad people for whatever reason then this law would allow me to discriminate against them. I don't think these people realize that.
If this law passes an employer could fire someone if they discovered the employee was gay. Or a landlord could kick a renter out of their home. The religious exemption extends past places of business to universities, where students or instructors could opt out of a school's anti-discrimination policy.
Now lets look at that paragraph a few more times with one change.
If this law passes an employer could fire someone if they discovered the employee was Christian. Or a landlord could kick a renter out of their home. The religious exemption extends past places of business to universities, where students or instructors could opt out of a school's anti-discrimination policy.
If this law passes an employer could fire someone if they discovered the employee was Muslim. Or a landlord could kick a renter out of their home. The religious exemption extends past places of business to universities, where students or instructors could opt out of a school's anti-discrimination policy.
If this law passes an employer could fire someone if they discovered the employee was Hispanic. Or a landlord could kick a renter out of their home. The religious exemption extends past places of business to universities, where students or instructors could opt out of a school's anti-discrimination policy.
I don't think the people trying to push this forward realize just how easy it is for a religion to be formed and recognized by law as a religion. I don't think it ever crossed their mind that this could be used to discriminate against the very people who want to do the discriminating.
Anyone with any sense can tell this whole idea is just wrong. Our country was founded on the concepts of freedom. This includes freedom OF religion and freedom FROM religion. But we have laws to protect people and religion is never an excuse to ignore the law. Like the title says... You have a right to BE a douchebag but you don't have the right to ignore the law BECAUSE you're a douchebag.
